Hood latch



J. F. WHITE HOOD LATCH May 15, 1923. 1,455,371

Filed Jan. 5, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l May15,1923. A 1,455,371

J. F. WHITE Hoon LATCH Filed Jan. s, 1921 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented ayl5, 192.3@ y

Mirto srres PATENT oFFicEj..

JOHN F. wIIITE, or cnroaeo, ILLINOIS, essrenon ro WHITE PRODUCTS oo., or

. f CHICAGO, ILIiInoIs, e. ooaPonATIon or IL LInoIs.

H001) LATCH.

Application filed January 3, 1921, Serial-No. 434,859.

To all whom tlm/ay concern: n

Be it known that l', loi-INF. WHITE, i

citizen ot the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand AState oi'I lllinois, have inventedcertain new and usef lulImprovements y in Hood Latches, ot`

which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates `to latches, and is concerned in particular withan extremely simple and 'eliicient automobile hood latch of y' pleasingappearance., Although the latch oit'- lowering of the hood in ar naturalmanner, n

without the necessity of a subsequent quarter turn; which, whenfastened, exerts a continuous and adjustable resultant-,pull upon thehood whereby the side thereol-l is drawn -f v Q lower extremity or thislatching device codownwardly and inwardlyvagainstthe 'frame of thevehicle; and which is characterized by simplicity of construction andconsequent, economy in manufacture. f

Numerous other objects and vadvantages scription anddrawingsare notintended to.y

limit unnecessarily the spirit Aof the invention or the scope of theappended claims.

ln the di'awingsp, ,v p Fig. 1 is a sectional view through a poi'.- tionof a vehicle hood and iframe, showing,

in side elevation, the latching device oit. this` l 19 at an obliqueangle to the p-lane of the invention; n Y

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the latching device together Yithadjacent portions of the vehicle structure, the hood of which ispartially broken away to show the keeper bracket;

FiOs. 3 and l are iraUinentar side and b D y.

front elevations, respectively ot a modified torni ot, connectionbetweenthe hood and atch, Fig. 3 being a view partiallyfin secion;

F'g. ois asectional View on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3;` andy I Figs. 6 and7 are side and front elevations respectively, of a modified form of thehood latch and the adjacent vehicle structure, the

hood and traine thereof being shown in seo tion in Fig. 6, and in frontelevationv in Fig. 7.'

.Referring to the'drawings, and particularly to that embodiment oi" theinvention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, the numeral 10designates generally the side of a vehicle hood, which is pivoted to theupper portion of the hood at 11 and contacts, along its lower inneredge, with the parallel, upwardly-bent flange 12 of a frame member 13forming a portion of the trame structure 14.

The latching device of this invention, which -is indicated generally bythe numeral 15, `is shownfas Vattached to the outer side of the hoodbymeans of an annular band-like yoke 16, and, immediately belowthe yoke 1GApasses into the interior oi' the hood through an aperture 17 inthe sidethereof. `The operates, within the hood. with a stationary mentionedtrame member 15.

The .numeral 19 designates a tubular, open-ended sleeve whichconstitutes vthe casing of the latch; and is contracted at its lower endto 'encompass snugly a cylindrical 'rod 20 concentric therewith.'` Theupper end ot said sleeve is provided with two spaced annularenlargements 21 which constitute the side walls of an annular grooveorjournal. rlhe band-like portion ot' the previously mentionedyoke 16encircles the casing A19 at `this point, and fits within the grooveformed between the enlargements 21,. wl'iereby said casing is preventedfrom moving longitudiiially relative to its supporting yoke. This yoke,which may be secured to the outer sides of the hood by bolts 22, orother suitable means, is ot such a shape as to hold thesleeve-inov'ement of the latter relative to the formei', for a purposehereinafter Seti'brth.

The stem 23 of aihandle 24 enters the upper op'en end of sleeve 19, andsnugly telescopes therein the upper end of the previouslymentionedrodfQ-O. A pin25,-or other means, passes transversely through both thestein 23 and rod 20, and thus rigidly connects these members.

A compression spring 26 is disposed within sleeve 19 about the shank of'the rod 20, said spring abutting at its upper end, against the lloweredge 27 of the stem 23, and at Vits lower end, against a small spacingcollar 28 which, by maintaining that end of the spring in spacedrelation to the contracted end of the sleeve 19, prevents any wedgingand consequent binding` of the rod QGfwhieh might occur were the spring'perinit-ted to force itseli into the tapering space present betweensaid rod and sleeve. 4The spacing collar28 would not, however, beessential in certain embodiments of the device wherein the lower end ofthis sleeve is differently shaped.

rlhe lower end of the rod 20 is squared for a 'short distance near vitsextremity, and, inasmuch as the distance across the Hats of the squaredportion is equal to the diameter olf the rod thereabove, abrupt corners29 are formed which serve to abut against the lower end ot the sleeve 19when the rod 2O is drawn upwardly therethrough, and thus limit theupward movement of said rod relative to the sleeve.

Oppositely disposed hooks 80 project outwardly `from two of the llatsofthe rod, and curve upwardly, the under surfaces of said hooks and theend ol' the rod merging into one regular curve,`whereby the lower end ofthe'rod as viewed in Fig. 1, is given a crescent-like contour. Thesehooks constitute the means of engagement oit the rod 20 with thepreviously mentioned latch keeper 18, and, although only one or thehooks may function at a time, two hooks are provided on opposite sideso'l the rod in order that oneV or' them will always engage with saidkeeper when the handle 2a or" the latch is turned' a quarter of a turnin either direction. y

The latch keeper 18 is preferably termed of a single piece of metal, andconsists of a Hat portionattached to the trarne ot the vehicle by amachine screw 3l, or other suitn able means, an upwardly bent portionwhich extends Vback over part ol said flat port-ion, and a hook-engagingportion which proiects downwardly in an abrupt angle from the top ofsaid upwardly bent portion and terminates in a horizontal edge l2 spacedfrom the frame structure of the vehicle. One or more slots or recessesB3 are formed in the keeper above, and parallel with, the edge 32. Theupper edge 34: of the slot 33 and the edge constitute engaging points ofvarying height for the hooks 30 of the rod 20,

More than one hook-engaging edge is provided with the keeper 18 in orderto vary, it desired, the torce with which the spring Q6 draws the sideof the hood -bothdownwardly andinwardly. This variation in the forceacting upon the hood is desirable it, in a new latch, the spring is toostrong, or it, in a hood of extremely light construct-ion the normalpull olithev latch would tend to bend inwardly the side thereof. lt willthus be readily understood that the tension under which t-he hood isfastened -down may be varied by merely changing the point o1 engagementof the hooks with the latch. keeper.

rlhe operation oi" the latching 4device of this invention is as follows:

`When the latch is fastened the handle @l thereof assumes the positionshown in Figs. 1 and 2, parallel to the side of the hood and to thelongitudinal axis vot' the vehicle. To unliasten the latch and raise the=hood the handle of the latch is turned a quarter of a revolution ineither direction, no` pressure downwardly thereon being necessary. wWhenthe handle is thus turned, ythe extreme vtipl of the hook 30 inengagement with either the edge 32 or 34 cams thereagainst vvand the rod2O is `thereby forced downwardly a very short distance until the hookrides under and is clearot the keeper. rlhe rod is thereupon drawnupwardly into its casing by spring 26 until the corners'29 of said rodabut against the lower edge or' said casing, whereupon the side et thehood may now be raised or swung outwardly by litting on the handle ofthe latch.

The latch may also be untastened Iin the following manner: WithoutAturning the handle 2l, a slight vertical pressure downwardly thereonwill serve simultaneously to loosen the grip of the hook 30 on thekeeper 18 and to swing said hook Ainua-rd'ly therefrom a sufficientdistance lto clear the keeper and permit lthe withdrawal upwardly oftthe rod into its' casing. rlie swinging otA the hook is possible becauseof the limited amount of pivotal movement, or Iplay previouslymentioned, that is provided 'l'or this purpose between the yoke 1G andthe latch casing.

To lower the hood and 'fasten the latch, the handle 24E, if not alreadyin a position parallel to the side et the hood, is 'natural-ly turnedparallel thereto by one when grasping the saine, in the act of loweringthe hood. s the hood reaches its lowest. position, the curved, undersuriace of the adjacent hook 3G contacts with, and cams inwardly past..the top of the keeper 18, and, when pressed downwardly fromvabove, snapsinto engagement with one oiC the edges provided' therefor in the keeper.

The latch may also be fastened' by lowering the hood with the latchhandle 24 still turned at right angles thereto. ln this case,

tatami it is necessary that, when the hood reaches its lowestpositiomthehandle be pressed downwardly and subsequently rotated a quarter of aturn. i

' Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 andl 5 of the drawings, a modified form ofthe invention is illustrated which differs from' the embodiment shown inFigs. 1 and 2, only in that a different type of supporting yoke isemployed, involving a corresponding modification of the sleeve 19 whereitengages therewith. The numeral 35 e designates a particularly simpleand inexpensive bracket yoke, preferably formed .of apiece of sti, roundwire, bent intothe desired shape to form a circular medial portion 36 toem-. brace the sleeve 19 of the latchand two aperturedI 'end portions 37to receive the bolts 22 which secure the yoke to the'hood.k

In this form of theinvention the annular spaced enlargements 21 on thesleeve 19 are closer together and form a groove or jour nal therebetweenwhich is substantially the same shape and'size kas that portion of theyoke received therein. e

This type of bracket yoke normally permits a greater amount ofpivotalmovement of the ksleeve 19 therein, than does the yoke of thefirst embodiment.

Having reference to Figs. 6 and? of the drawings, an embodiment of theinvention is illustrated wherein a different form of means forsupporting the latch, a different latchkeeper, and a differently shapedhooking means are employed. f

Instead of using the form ofbracket yoke previously described the sleeve19 has afiXed thereto, at its upper end, a collar 38 from one side ofwhichy an apertured ear 39 projects radially. A plate 40, which isattached to the outer side of the hood by meansof bolts 41', orotherwise, is provided with a relatively large elongated aperture whichcoincides with the aperture 17 ofthe side of the hood, said plate thusserving as a reinforcing border for the` aperture 17.- Two spacedears42project outwardlyk from this plate, immediately above the elongatedaperture therein, and overlap both sides yof the ear 39 of the collar38. These ears are apertured in alignment with theaperture of the ear39, and a pin 43, which passes through the three ears, serves as a pivotby which the latch is hinged to the side of the hood.

The hooks 44 of this embodiment project outwardly and upwardly from twoopposite flat sides of the' lower end of rod 20, and are formed withstraight upper and lower edges, the'lower edges of the hooks meeting atan angle below the end of the rod. as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. n

The latch keeper 45 consists of a rightangularly bent member comprisinga base has punched therefrom an ear 48. lThis ear is bent at an obtuseangle to the base portion 46, leaving a hook-engaging edge 49 on theupright portion 47 of the latch keeper. if desired a slot may be cut inthis keeper, similar to, and for the same purpose as, the slot 33 of thekeeper 18; in which case, of course, either the edge 49 would be formedat a lower point on the keeper or the keeper extended upwardly toprovide ample space for the formation of the additional slot referredto. in this ein bodiment'the latch. engages its keeper from the louterside rather than from the inner side as in the construction illustratedin Fig. 1.

Themanipulation of this form of latch, in fastening or unfastening thehood,`is substantially identical with the mode' of operation previouslydescribed in relation to the first embodiment.

l claim: l

1; ln a device of the character described,

Athe combination with a frame portion and an engine hood movablethereto, ofan axially reciprocal hood latch pivotally attached to theoutside of the hood and projecting obliquely downwards through anaperture in the same into the interior thereof, an operatinghandleprovided on the latch adjacent the exposed upper extremity of thesame, and a keeper fixedly secured in the interior .of the hood to saidframe portion and adapted to cooperate with the lower ein tremity ofthehood latch.

2. ln a device of the character described, the ycombination Awith aframe portion and an engine hood movable relative thereto, of an axiallyrotatable hood latch pivotally attached to the hood and projectingobliquely through an aperture in the same into the interior thereof, anda keeper fixedly secured in Athe interior of the hood to said frameportion and adapted to cooperate with the lower extremity of the hoodlatch. 3. In a device of the character described, the combination with aframe portion and an engine hood movable relative thereto, of a hoodlatch pivotally attached to the hood and projecting obliquely through anaperture in the same into the interior thereof,

` ity of thehood latch, and means whereby to vary the tension underwhich said hood latch. operates when actually functioning as such.

4. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a frame portion and an engine hood movable relativethereto, of a Ahood latch pivotally attached to thehood andprojectingobliquely through an aperture in the same into the interior thereof, anda keeper fiXedly secured within the in a hood cl terior of the hood tosaid trame portion and adapted to cooperate with the lower entremity ofthehood latch, said keeper providing means whereby to vary the tensionunder which said hood latch operates when actively functioning as such.

5. ln a device of the character described, the combination with a trameportion and an engine hood movable relative thereto, ot a hood latchpivotally attached to the hood and projecting` obliquely through anaperture in the same into the interior thereof, and a keeper lixedlysecured within the interior ot' the hood to said traine portion andadapted to cooperate with the lower eX- tremity ot the hood latch, saidkeeper provided with a plurality ot' horizrnital latchenpgahjing edgeswhereby to vary the tension under which said hood latch operates whenactively l'unctionino` as such.

6. 1n a` device ot the character described, the combination with a trameportion and an engine hood movable relative thereto, ot i nivotallyattached to the hood and projecting obliquely through an aperture in thesame into the interior thereof, and a keeper tixedly secured within theinterior oit the hood to said traine port-ion and adapted to cooperatewith the lower ei;- t-remity ot the hood latch, said keeper prou videdwith a plurali ,i ot horizontal latchengaging edjcs po uioned atdifferent heights above the hase thereof whereby to vary the tensionunder which said hood latch operates when actively functioning` as such.

ln a device of the character described, the combination with a frameportion and an engine hood movable relative thereto, of a hood latchpivotally attached to thehood and projectingobliquely through anaperture in the same into the interior thereof, and a 1Keeper tixedlysecured within the interior oit the hood to said traine portion andadapted to coope ate with the lowei` entremity of the hood latchv` saidhood latch being provided at its lower extremity with two oppositelydisposed means 'for engagement with the keeper whereby such engagementmay be terminated or formed upon rotation ot said ener means 9Go ineither direction about the anis ot the latch.

ln av device or the character described. the combination with a traineportion and an engine hood movable relative thereto, ol a hood latchpivotally attached to the hood and projecting' obliquely through anaperture in the same into the interior thereoli, and a keeper linedlysecured within the interior ot the hood to said trame portion andadapted to cooperate with the lower extremity ot the hood latch, saidhood latch being provided at its lowei` extremly with two oppositolydisposed hooks tor engagement with the keeper whereby such engagehood tosaid traine portion and hood latch being "er extremity with two op- ;edhoolrs 'projecting radially 'lroin the longitudinal axis of uponrotation of said engaming; means QG@ in either direction about l0. l.; adevice ot' the character described, e combination with trame portion andan eneine hood movable relative thereto, of a` latch casing, a yolre toconnect `the casing` to the hood, means assocfited with the yoke wherebyto permit. a limited amount of movcn'ent between the casing and hood, arod reciprocable within the casing` and provided at its upper end with ahandle and at itslower end with engaging means, means ior czizerting' acontinuous p assure on the rod to draw the same upwardly relative to thecasing and a lreeper tixedly secured within the interior ot the hood tosaid traine portion and adapted to coopera-te with said engaging means.

ll. ln a device ot the character described, the combination with a trameportion and an engine hood movable relative thereto, of latch casing, ayoke to connect the casing to the hood, means associated with the yokewhereby to permit a limited amount of movement between the casing andhood, a rod reciprocablc within the casing and provided at its upperlend with a handle and at its lower end with engaging means, a sprintfwithin the casing and about the rod for eroi-ting a continuous pressureon the rod to draw thi same upwardly relative to the casing' and keeperi'ixedly secured within the interior of the hood to said frame portionand adapted to cooperate with said engaging means.

l2. ln a device ot the character described. the combination with a trameport-ion and an engine hood movable relative thereto, o l a latchcasing, a yoke to connect the casing' to the hood,.means associated withthe yoke whereby to permit a limited amount ot movement between thecasing` and hood, a rod reciprocable within the casing and provided atits upper end with ahandle and at its lower end with engaging means,means tor `exerting a continuous pressure on the engagement may betermi-- roo rod to draw the same upwardly relative to the casing, akeeper iiXedly secured within the interior of the hood to said trameportion and adapted to cooperate with said engaging means,y and meanswhereby to vary the tension under which said engaging means cooperateswith thekeeper.

` 13. In a device of the character described, the combination with a`frame portion and an engine hood movable relative thereto, ot a latchcasing, a yoke to connectthe casing -to the hood, means associated withthe yoke whereby to permita limited amount ot movement between thecasing and hood, a rod reciprocable within the casing and provided atits upper end with a handle and at its lower end with engaging means,means for exerting a continuous pressure on the rod to draw the sameupwardly relative to the casing, a keeper tiXedly secured withiny theinterior of the hood to said Jframe portion and adapted .to cooperatewith said engaging means, and means associated with the keeper wherebyto vary the tension under which said engaging means cooperates with thekeeper.

14. In a device ot the character described,

ment is permitted therebetween, and a keeper xedly secured within theinterior of the hood to the fra-me portion and adapted to cooperate withsaidengaging means oit the rod.

15. In a device of the character described, the combination with a frameportion and -an enginehood movable relative thereto, oi

a hood latch including a casing projecting obliquely through the hood,and a .rod reciprocable and rotatable within-said casing and provided atits upper end with ahandle and at its lower end with engaging means, a'

yoke toconnect the casing to the hood whereby a limited amount ofpivotal movement is permitted therebetween, and a keeper iiXedly securedwithin the interior ot the hood to the frame portion and adapted tocooperate with said engaging means of the rod.

16. In a device of the character described,

the combination with a trame portion and an engine hood movable relativethereto, of

a hood latchiincluding a tubular casing which is provided near vitsupper end with two spaced annular enlargements, and a rod freciprocableand rotatable within said casing andy provided at its upper end with ahandle and atits lower end with engaging between the casing and hood,and meansy within the hood for cooperating with said engaging means ofthe rod.

17, In a device ot the character described, the combination with ayiframe portion and an engine hood movable relative thereto, of a hoodlatchincluding a casing and a rod reciprocable and rotatable therein andprovided aty its upper end with a handle and at its lower end with asquared portion from two of the opposite lat'sides of which projectengaging'hooks, and means within the hood for cooperating with saidengaging hooks.

y18. In a device of the character described, thecombination with a frameportion and an engine hood movable relativel thereto, of

a hood latch including a casing and a rod reciprocable and rotatabletherein and provided at its upper end with a handle and at itslower endwith a portion substantially rectangular in cross-section Jfrom two ofthe opposite flat sides of which project engaging hooks, and meanswithin the hood 'for within the hood for cooperating with said engaginghooks. n

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses.`

*y l JOHN F. WHITE. Witnesses: l

RAYMoND L. GRnIsT, FRANCES K. GILLEsPm.

